Monday, November 9, 2015

Restore Gay Veterans Benefits

At a press conference on Capitol Hill, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Representatives Mark Pocan (D-WI) Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) & Members of the LGBT Equality Caucus have urged the passage of the Restore Honor to Service Members Act. This legislation would help service members discharged solely due to their sexual orientation correct their military records to reflect their honorable service & reinstate the benefits they earned. Rep. Pocan, Co-chair of the Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus stated, “As we approach Veterans Day, it’s important to remember the sacrifices our veterans have made for our country. This includes the selfless service of more than 100,000 veterans who were discharged from the military because of their sexual orientation. Our legislation ensures that gay veterans who served our country no longer live with tarnished records that prohibit them from receiving the recognition, benefits & honors they deserve.” Rep. Rangel added, "As a veteran, I know that our men & women in uniform give all to serve our country with great honor. We can no longer delay honoring these veterans who deserve long overdue recognition. We struck down ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ & legalized gay & lesbian marriage. Love is not dishonorable." Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America, VoteVets.org, OutServe-SLDN, the Human Rights Campaign, American Veterans for Equal Rights, Lambda Legal, Swords to Plowshares, the American Bar Association, Universal Unitarian Association & the American Humanist Association support this legislation.
LISTEN: Ann Hampton Callaway Changing The World With MusicHear Audio Interviews w/ LGBT Leaders@OUTTAKE VOICES™OUTTAKE VOICES™ NOW ON HUFF POST...:)SUPPORT OUTTAKE™ @ OUR EQUALITY STORE